What are Parameters and Arguments?
When defining and calling functions in Python, parameters and arguments help us pass information into our functions. Think of them as the ingredients in a recipe! 🍽️
What's the Difference?
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Parameter | A variable inside the function definition (acts as a placeholder) |
| Argument | The actual value passed when calling the function |
Defining Parameters
When creating a function, you can define parameters inside parentheses ().
def greet(name):
print(f"Hello, {name}!")
Here, name is a parameter.
Passing Arguments
When calling a function, you provide arguments to replace the parameters.
greet("Alice") # Outputs: Hello, Alice!
greet("Bob") # Outputs: Hello, Bob!Now, "Alice" and "Bob" are arguments.
Multiple Parameters
A function can take multiple parameters separated by commas.
def introduce(name, age):
print(f"Hi, I'm {name} and I'm {age} years old!")
introduce("Charlie", 25)
introduce("Daisy", 30)
Default Parameters
You can provide default values for parameters in case they are not specified.
def greet(name="Guest"):
print(f"Hello, {name}!")
greet() # Outputs: Hello, Guest!
greet("Sophia") # Outputs: Hello, Sophia! Keyword Arguments
You can specify arguments by name when calling a function.
def order(food, drink):
print(f"You ordered {food} with {drink}.")
order(drink="Cola", food="Burger")
This makes the function call clearer and avoids confusion.
Summary
| Concept | Description |
|---|---|
| Parameter | A variable inside the function definition |
| Argument | The actual value passed to the function |
| Default Parameter | A fallback value if no argument is given |
| Keyword Argument | Specifies arguments by name for clarity |
Now you're ready to use parameters and arguments like a Python pro!
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